East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church // Volume 5 // Issue 45 // 17 November 2019

THE 1

TRUMPET
Are you looking for
a way to serve and
give to others this

CALL holiday season?

LOVE & BLESS LOCALLY

Thanks to a developing relationship between our church and a community charity called
The Olsen Christmas Wish, we have a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the
lives of local children this Christmas Season!
For those of you who perhaps are unfamiliar with The Olsen Christmas Wish, the charity
was started in 2006 by local police officer, Chris Shelly, after a fellow officer Shelly
worked with passed away, leaving behind two small children. Every year since then, our
Stroud Regional Police Department has run an event to raise money for the fallen
officer’s children's’college funds. When the goal of 10,000 was reached, the SARP
This week, as we decided to now find families in need and with the money raised from the Olsen Event
bless them with a memorable Christmas. Fast forwarding just a few years, Shelly’s
watch the original vision has grown into an effort that last year provided over 70 children with
temperature drop and presents, and a Christmas experience they would never forget!!
If you plan to be in worship this Sunday, November 17th, you’ll
witness the first few also have the chance to view a news story video, directly from
snow flakes of the BRCTV13, featuring two of our youth, Annie and Abby
Kintz! According to the news story, this past summer,
season hit the Annie and Abby ran a lemonade stand which raised $19
ground, I’m sure in one day. The girls then took that $19 and gave it to
Shelly, in support of Olsen’s Christmas Wish. The Kintz
we’re all suddenly girls’ generosity exploded with popularity, thanks to
social media sites, and soon people all over Monroe
reminded that the County were sending in checks to match the girls original
holiday season is $19 donation! And, according to officer Shelly in the video,
SARP received over $500 in donations because people
right around the were inspired by Annie and Abby’s story! How incredible is
that?
corner! And as we
This year, we all have an exciting opportunity to follow Annie and
prepare to gather with Abby’s lead by partnering with Shelly and The Olsen Christmas
Wish in order to reach even more children in our community.
family and friends to This is an awesome way for all of us to pitch in and show these
exchange presents, local families that they are valued by us and that they are
loved by God! But wait, there’s more: I recently contacted
and consume way Shelly and asked if it would be okay for us to present each
child we support with a BIBLE, in addition to the regular
too many carbs,
presents. Chris’ response was, “I think that is an awesome
sugar cookies, and idea!” Church family, how wonderful is this? This mission
project provides us all with the following opportunities this
questionable dairy Christmas season:
based drinks—we • Partner with a community organization and local police
also realize that amid • Provide a Christmas experiences to local children
• Provide those same children with the Word of God
such extravagance, • Encourage our youth for stepping out in faith to bless others in need
so many people in
Friends, if you’re interested in helping us support the Olsen’s Christmas Wish Outreach
our community are in this year, here are a few great ways you can help:
1
dire need. (1) Give a “$19 Match Gift” by taking an envelope from the Tree in Oberholtzer Hall
(2) Come hungry to the OCW Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday, December 15th!
(3) Contribute financially and help us provide each OCW recipient with a Bible!
- Sarah Kuhnle and the Outreach & Evangelism Team
Dear Trumpet Call Readers, due to the oncoming
holiday season we will not be releasing a edition of a
Trumpet Call for the following dates: Sunday, 12/01 2
(due to Thanksgiving), Sunday, 12/29 (Due to
Christmas), and Sunday, 01/05 (due to New Years).
Other preparations are being made to welcome our
Holiday guests, and we look forward to returning to
our newsletter after the listed Holiday weeks. Invitation To Generosity
- Administration & Staff Friends, it is not too late to be blessed by being a
blessing! If you weren’t able to turn in your Every
Member’s Commitment Form or your Intention of
Giving pledge for 2020, the front office invites you to
submit your forms this week and to and anxiously
await His blessing for you. Please put your
documents directly into the offering plate this Sunday
or drop them by the church office this week!

Next Sunday, November 24th, ESUMC will host the

annual charge conference. In previous years, the
District Superintendent would visit each church on the
district for individual charge conferences, but in recent
years, this has changed due to the size of each
district expanding to include as many as 110
churches. Our Superintendent, Steve Morton, is
leading 7 group charge conferences this fall, and ours
is the final one of the season. We will be joined by
about 9 other churches on November 24th, with the
November 10th, 2019
charge conference commencing at 1:00PM in our
Do you know of a ESUMC congregation member Sanctuary and ending by 3:00PM. DS Morton uses
who’s recently been admitted to the hospital? If so, this time as a way to inspire and teach our churches,
please inform Rachel Thompson as soon as possible and last year, those who attended at Faith UMC in
([email protected], or 570-421-3280 ext. 1011). Stroudsburg, did indeed come away inspired! Steve
will be focusing on the seven churches in the Book of
This notification to Staff will be especially important Revelation in this year’s charge conference, and how
considering the recent changes made for our Hospital the challenges of those seven churches impact the
Visitation Team at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Pocono. modern church. Important voting on issues related to
Unfortunately, our team will no longer have access to charge conference took place at our Steering Team
the daily clergy book at either LVH-P or at St. Luke’s, meeting on November 11th, and this serves as a
so we will need your assistance to keep our team reminder that anyone from the congregation can join
informed!!! Thank you for helping us care for our 2 us either at Steering or the charge conference.
church family! We appreciate your efforts to help us Please speak to Pastor Todd if you have any
stay connected with our Hospitalized members! questions about the charge conference procedures.
THIS WEEK Recovery
Meetings
3

at ESUMC
All meetings are
held downstairs in
the Community Room of
the Education Building
*excluding GriefShare*

AA
Keep It Simple
Thursdays & Saturdays
8:00pm-9:00pm

Serenity House
Saturdays
5:30pm-6:30pm
Sundays
4:30pm-6:30pm

NA
Just For Today
Monday-Saturday
12:00pm-1:30pm

New Beginnings
(Women’s Group)
Wednesdays
6:00-7:30pm

GRIEF
SHARE
Special Event
Surviving the Holidays
Thursday, 11/14/19
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES at 6:30pm
[email protected] Official Church email
Weekly Seminars
[email protected] Communications requests 01/09/20-04/02/20
[email protected] Prayer requests (for our phone, text,
3 or email prayer chains) Thursday Evenings
[email protected] Servant keeper questions or help 6:30-8:00pm
[email protected] TC articles DEADLINE: Wednesdays, 12pm
 4

Congratulations Fall 2019 FPU Graduates!!!

It has been a privilege to walk with and work with these individuals over the past 9 weeks! Please take a moment to
read a few of their comments about the course and the impact it has had on their lives.
"I have paid off over $3,200...but more importantly...I am learning how to really handle money. I am inspired
knowing I am not alone on this journey...I have rediscovered my relationship with God on this journey and I
intentionally talk with Him every morning now."

"I was tired of living (in debt) and didn't see a clear way out...I thought living in debt was just a normal thing, as no
one really ever showed me that there was another way...seeing what life can be without debt just brings so much
more freedom and less stress."

"I have been struggling with debt for a long time. When I look at how much money I make each year, I am at a
loss as to where it all goes...(now ) with my budget, I can see where my money goes."

"Money was always kind of like the elephant in the room...something we never really wanted to talk about but
could never really ignore...we now talk more openly about money."

"This course has changed the way we look at money and how we operate our family. We are giving our son a
brighter future and can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel."

"Paying off debt felt incredible. It was like this enormous weight had been lifted from our shoulders never to be
thought of again!"

"The timing of FPU was really a God thing...(several weeks) into the class, my employer...went on strike for three
weeks...but thankfully, and largely because of the focus we were giving our finances in FPU, we were able to
hurtle through that obstacle easily..."

"Taking this class has helped us to tithe biblically, gain intensity for paying off debt, give budgeting a whirl,
become more financially established, and expose ourselves to an enormous resource of financial planning tools
and wisdom for the future."

"Utilizing the principles and math learned in this program truly helped us see where we were wasting our
money...We are now on a path to complete debt elimination within the next year and will be mortgage-free in half
the time previously thought possible. We are beginning to decide how we can give to our family, our church, and
our community in the near future."

Did any of these comments resonate with you? Do you long to experience the financial freedom, peace, and hope that
these graduates have experienced? Do you have the desire to get out of debt and be outrageously generous? Or do
you just wonder what FPU is?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we encourage you to join us for a FREE Financial Peace Live!
Livestream this Wednesday, November 20th from 6:45 - 9:30 PM in Fellowship Hall to learn the 7 Baby Steps
that will lead you toward financial peace. To register, visit
4 www.fpu.com/1102823 or sign up at the FPU table in
Oberholtzer Hall this Sunday.
Blessings, Michael & Darla Piancone, ESUMC’s FPU Leaders, [email protected]
 5

On Celebration Sunday, November 10th, we were pleased to welcome fifteen new members to our congregation!
They come from all walks of life and came to our church in many different ways, but all are excited to be members
of ESUMC. Said one, “I can’t wait to tell my friends that I’m a member of this church!” Most of our new members
went through a three-part class to introduce them to each other, the church, their spiritual gifts, and a tiny piece of
church history.

Mike Ault Jason Bibler Ruth Anne Dailey Mary Ann Erdmann Louise Fornasier Pauline Harlan Betsey Harris
joined via joined via joined via transferred from joined via transferred from transferred from
Profession of Faith Profession of Faith Reaffirmation of Faith Middlecreek Profession of Faith Grace UMC Dingman’s Ferry UMC

Ellen Hicks Clara Keiper Twyla Masten Debby Rennekamp Ted Renennekamp Connie Thompson David Thompson
Joined on transfer from joined via joined via joined via transferred from transferred from
Profession of Faith Pocono Mountain Reaffirmation of Faith Reaffirmation of Faith Reaffirmation of Faith First UMC First UMC
Bible Fellowship Church Phoenixville Phoenixville

They also met several leaders of ministries in the church who shared information about their
particular areas. Since all the classes were after 10:45 worship, lunch was provided by some of
our members. Each of our new members were assigned a “Fellowship Friend” who will help to
orient them to the church and get to know them. Thanks to all who participated in some way to
make this a meaningful experience! And please, do take the time to welcome, greet and get to
know them as they continue to familiarize5 themselves with ESUMC!
Diane Thompson,
transfer from
Thorndale UMC Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim
This Wednesday, November 20th, ESUMC is thrilled We’re “Growing Faith” in our nursery program by
to host a FREE livestream of Dave Ramsey’s caring for children every Sunday so their parents can
Financial Peace University (FPU) from 6:45-9:30pm! attend service or participate in classes. We’re
Dave Ramsey currently hosts the third largest talk “Growing Faith” every Sunday that we teach a young
radio show in the country, and has helped millions of toddler a new song about God, or read a new story
people change their family trees, and discover from the Bible, or teach them about Jesus
financial freedom. In this three-hour livestream, Dave Christ. And we’re “Growing Faith” when we as
Ramsey and Chris Hogan will walk through the caregivers get to watch the church’s children learn,
program’s 7 Baby Steps and demonstrate that money play and grow on their Christian journey.
stress doesn’t have to be a forever problem. However, all that growth requires a large group of
Sign up to attend the livestream of this amazing, dedicated volunteers! So we humbly ask that you
FREE event, this Sunday in Oberholtzer Hall! Can’t consider volunteering in the infant nursery, toddler/
make it this Sunday? Not a problem. You can also preschool nursery or anywhere in our Children’s
register online to attend ESUMC’s FPU LiveStream by Ministry in 2020. There are a variety of volunteer
utilizing the following link: www.fpu.com/1102823. opportunities and we are happy to answer any
questions. Please contact Erica Dorsch, Director of
For questions please email Michael & Darla Piancone Children’s Ministry, at [email protected] or
at: [email protected]. Michelle Traub, Nursery Coordinator, at
[email protected].

Honoring Our
Veterans

These last few Sundays,

the Toddler/Preschool
Nursery has been learning
about giving thanks and
decided to make a special
sign/craft to thank all of
our ESUMC veterans and
their families for their
service in honor of
Community Thanksgiving Service
Veteran’s Day, November 11th. The sign was
displayed in the sanctuary for Celebration Sunday and The Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will
is now downstairs as a bulletin board outside the take place at Zion United Church of Christ, 14 N. 8th
St., Stroudsburg, at 7:00 pm on Sunday, November
nursery. Our sincerest gratitude to all who have
24. Rev. Nicole Vogel of E. Stroudsburg Presbyterian
served our country!!! Thank You! Church will bring the message and Pastor Todd will
participate. Come join your friends in this unique
- ESUMC Toddler/Preschool Nursery opportunity to praise God across religious faiths!
 What Is GriefShare?
In Matthew 21:13, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah,
“...My house will be called a house of prayer…” ESUMC is pleased to announce a second round
GriefShare seminars to be offered on Thursday
Beginning Sunday, December 1st, you will have the
opportunity to join together in prayer with your church evenings from 6:30-8:00PM, January 9th–April 2nd,
family, and pray for our church staff and leaders, our 2020.
ministries, and the mission projects we support. We’ll
also seek the Holy Spirit’s leading regarding His GriefShare is a weekly support group for those who
vision and will for ESUMC, and pray for the future of have experienced the death of a loved one. This
our United Methodist denomination. program is designed to help those who are hurting
Eleven members of our church’s Steering Team have understand their grief and rebuild their life in the midst
volunteered to alternate leading this informal time of of the challenges they are facing.
prayer, held every Sunday from 9:50-10:30AM in the
The program runs in 13 weeks cycles, and includes
Youth Room (located in the church basement).
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend! video seminars, group discussion, and a personal
workbook. If you, or someone you know, is interested
“What other nation is so great as to have their gods in GriefShare, please contact our facilitators: Ginny
near them the way the Lord our God is near us
whenever we pray to him?” - Moses Levanowitz at (570) 992-7290, or Dick & Mary Jane
Lord at (570) 421-1188. As always, thank you for
helping us promote and share this vital ministry with
those that grieving.
 Tape Here
Postage
Here

EAST STROUDSBURG
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
83 SOUTH COURTLAND STREET
EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18301

Esumc.net East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church EastStroudsburgUMC @ESUMC ESUMC

S U N DAY S E R V I C E S & T I M E S
8:30 AM Traditional Worship 9:40-10:40 AM Equipping Hour 10:45 AM Contemporary Worship

Church Office Director of Student Ministries Director of Congregational Care

Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm Scott Kuhnle Rachel Thompson
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
(570) 421-3280 Ext. 1013 Ext. 1011

Pastor Director of Children & Family Ministries Audio/Visual Technician

Jim Todd Erica Dorsch Charles Rajnai
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Ext. 1014 Ext. 1017
Financial Secretary, Accts. Receivable
Church Administrator Director of Traditional Music (Volunteer) Christine Uporsky
Rich Poole Jenni Poole [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected] Ext. 1012
Ext. 1015
Director of Contemporary Music Financial Secretary, Accts. Payable
Administrative Assistant Doug Malefyt Bruce Osbun
Kathy Ravago [email protected] [email protected]
[email protected] Ext. 1012
Ext. 1010 Organist
Jonathan Strack Weekday Sexton
Director of Communications [email protected] Bob Lee
& Spiritual Life Development [email protected]
Bethany Mills Director of Bells
[email protected] Chris Perfetti Sunday Sexton
Ext. 1023 [email protected] Craig Banner